Managing conflict is ‘top of the agenda’ says CIPD

Early findings from the CIPD’s 2011 Managing conflict at work survey show that managing workplace grievances takes on average 14 days per case in management time.

This cost, combined with the Government’s proposals to implement employment tribunal charges and extend the unfair dismissal protection period, means that conflict management is now the number one concern for employers, according to the CIPD.

HR needs to develop more positive strategies for dealing with workplace conflict, the survey shows. Once a disagreement goes down the path of formal action, it can become increasingly difficult to find a satisfactory outcome and avoid the costly and time-consuming legal ramifications.

One alternative to the formal dispute resolution route put forward by the CIPD is mediation, a third-party intervention that “can be highly effective in improving relationships and reducing the costs of conflict”. It says that its survey report, to be launched on 9 March 2011 at the CIPD’s conflict management conference, should give powerful support to HR professionals who want to produce a convincing business case for introducing a mediation scheme into their workplace.

Take part in XpertHR’s managing workplace conflict and mediation survey and you will be entitled to a complimentary copy of the findings. You will also receive a free copy of the XpertHR 2011 HR roles and responsibilities survey immediately after you have completed the questionnaire.